This past August, ARC profiled the incredible biodiversity of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Rainforests of Tanzania. These forests are home to hundreds of endemic animal species – those found no where else in the world. If we are to ensure the existence of these unique species we must protect their remaining habitat – something ARC has been doing for over twenty years. During the next eight weeks, we will profile a different endemic species every Wednesday to give a peak into the amazing wildlife you can find in Tanzania’s forests. Think of it as a virtual safari! Thank you to ARC intern Nick Hummel who joins us from The New School to present this series.

To kick things off we would like to introduce you to the charismatic Lesser Bush Baby.

Species Range
There are fourteen different species of Lesser Bush Babies, three of which are found only in the forests of Tanzania:

  • The Mountain Dwarf Galago: found in West and East Usumbara Mountains, Uluguru Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains, the Rubehos, Taita Hills (the start of the Eastern Arc in southern Kenya), and Rungwe Mountains
  • The Zanzibar Dwarf Galago: found in the lowland Udzungwa Mountains, the Uluguru Mountains, West and East Usambara Mountains, and Mafia Island
  • The Rondo Dwarf Galago: found in Zareninge, Pande Game Reserve, Pugu/Kazimzumbwe, Rondo, Latipo and Ziwani

The Rondo Dwarf Galago is of special concern because it is listed as one of the 25 Most Endangered Primates in the world, with less than 100 km2 of fragmented coastal forest habitat remaining.

Description
The Lesser Bush Babies, or Galagos, are a family of small, arboreal (tree-dwelling) primates native to almost every large forest in Africa. They are some of the smallest primates in the world and are only about the size of a squirrel when fully grown. Known for their large, round eyes and leaping ability, they are called “bush babies” because of their vocal calls that sound like a crying baby (as well as their cute appearance!)

Bush babies feed primarily on insects, fruit, leaves, and tree gum depending on the season. Their large eyes and bat-like rotating ears allow them to pick out and catch insects both in the canopy and on the ground. Characteristic of many primates, their locomotive abilities are exceptional as they can leap more than 20 feet using their powerful hind-legs and they can bound through the forest at incredible speeds. They are a nocturnal animal and spend their nights foraging for food, socializing, and traveling from place to place. Most species nest in tree hollows to sleep during the day but the Mountain Dwarf Galago of the Eastern Arc Mountains is unique in that it  constructs fully enclosed leaf nests that can be reused throughout the year.

Bush babies spend most of their time (about 70 percent) in solidarity. But like most primates, they exhibit complex social behaviors when interacting. Their unique vocalizations can include croaking, chattering, clucking sounds and shrill whistles. These calls act as a communicative tool used to locate other members of the species, make threats to other individuals, and make distress calls, which call attention or sound an alarm to other bush babies. Often different species of bush babies are difficult to differentiate solely by physical appearance so scientists will observe their vocalizations as a way to tell species apart. They also communicate through the scent of their urine, which they use to remember paths they took through the forest and to mark male territories. When active, bush babies often travel in small groups consisting of a mother and her young but will reconvene with other bush babies in groups of up ten in order to socialize and nest together during the day.

Check out this starlight camera footage of a Northern Lesser Galago.

Threats & Solutions
The biggest threat to bush babies is habitat loss from logging, clear-cutting for agriculture, and charcoal production. ARC supports field-based projects in many of the mountain and coastal forests where bush babies are found, including the introduction of income generating activities, tree planting, environmental education, forest patrols, and participatory forest management.

Sources:
African Wildlife Foundation
IUCN Red List
Primate Info Net

Image Credit